Final answer:
The best course of action when a third party reports a cardholder's death is to verify the information provided and then take appropriate steps, only after proper confirmation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a third party calls to report that the cardholder is deceased, the best answer is to verify information and take appropriate action. This means that the company should not take any immediate action such as closing the account without confirming the legality and authenticity of the claim. Any premature action taken without proper verification can lead to complications, especially in sensitive situations involving a customer's death. Therefore, upon receiving such a report, the company should follow established protocols to confirm the death through documentation such as a death certificate before proceeding with any actions regarding the account.